58* ulloa's voyage to south ameuica. 



beauty of their hair has been ah-eady mentioned, but they have ufually an enchanting 

 luftre and dignity in their eyes. 



Thefe perfonal charms are heightened by thofe of the mind ; clear and comprehen- 

 five intellects : an eafmefs of behaviour, fo well tempered, that whilfl: it invites love, 

 it commands refped : the charms of their converfation are beyond exprefTion ; their 

 ideas juft, their expreflions pure, their manner inimitably graceful. Thefe are the 

 allurements by which great numbers of Europeans, forgetting the fair profpefts they 

 have at home, are induced to marry and fettle here. 



One material objeftion againfl them is, that being too well acquainted with their 

 own excellences, they are tainted with a haughtinefs, which will fcarce ftoop to the 

 will of their hufbands. Yet by their addrefs and infmuating compliance, they fo far 

 gain the afcendancy over them, as to be left to their own difcretion. There may, 

 indeed, a few exceptions be found ; but thefe poffibly are rather owing to a want of 

 capacity. Another objection may be made to their being more expenfive than other 

 ladies ; but this arifes from the exorbitant price of ftuffs, laces, and other commodities, 

 in this country. And with regard to the independence they affed, it is no more than 

 a cuftom long eftablifhed in the country. To which may be added, that being natives, 

 and their hufbands generally foreigners, it is very natural, that the latter fhould not 

 enjoy all that authority, founded on laws fuperior to cuftom ; and hence this error 

 remains uncorredled. The hufbands conform to the manners of the country, as their 

 charafter is not in the leaft affefted thereby ; and this complaifance is rewarded by the 

 difcretion and aSedion of their ladies, which are not to be paralleled in any other part 

 of the world. 



They are fo exceflively fond of perfumes, that they always carry ambergrife about 

 them ; putting it behind their ears, and otlrer parts of the body ; and alfo in feveral 

 parts of their clothes. Not content with the natural fragrancy of flowers, which are 

 alfo a favourite ornament, they fcatter perfumes even on their nofegays. The mofl 

 beautiful flowers they place in their hair, and others, which are moft valuable for their 

 odour, they ftick in their fleeves ; the effluvia therefore iffuing from thefe ladies, the 

 reader will conceive to reach to no inconfiderable diftance. fhe flower mofl in ufe 

 is the chirimoya, of mean appearance, but of exquifite fcent. 



To this paffion for flowers it is owing, that the grand fquare, every morning, on 

 account of the vaft quantity of beautiful vegetables brought thither, has the appearance 

 of a fpacious garden. The fmell and the fight are there fufficiently gratified. The 

 ladies refort thither in their calafhes, and if their fancy happens to be pleafed, they 

 make but little difficulty with regard to the price. A flranger has the pleafure of fee- 

 ing affembled here not only the ladies, but every body of rank whofe health and avoca- 

 tions will admit of it. 



The lower claffes of women, even to the very Negroes, afFed, according to their 

 abilities,,, to imitate tlieir betters, not only in the fafhion of their drefs, but alfo in the 

 richnefs of it. None here are feen without fhoes as at Quito, but they are made of fo 

 fmall a fize, in order to diminifh the natural bignefs of the feet, that they muft give 

 infinite uneafmefs in the wearing. A defire of being diftinguifhed by an elegant drefs 

 is univerfal. Their linen is always ftarched to a great degree, in order to difplay the 

 coftly patterns of their laces. After this univerfal paiTion, their next care, and indeed 

 a much more commendable one, is cleanlinefs ; of which the uncommon neatnefs of 

 their houfes are fufficient inftances. 



They are naturally gay, fprightly, and jocofe, without levity ; remarkably fond of 

 mufic 5 fo that even among the loweft you are entertained with pleafing and agreeable 



fongs J 



